Size at birth and blood pressure in young adults: findings from a Brazilian birth cohort study

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:To describe the prevalence of borderline blood pressure (BBP) and hypertension (HT) among young adults and to assess the association between size at birth and BBP/HT. METHODS: Data were collected from the fi rst Ribeirão Preto Birth CohortStudy conducted in the city of Ribeirão Preto, southeastern Brazil, that started in [1978][1979]. Of the 6,827 singletons born in hospitals, 2,060 were assessed at 23-25 years of age. Blood samples were collected, an anthropometric assessment was performed, and information was obtained regarding occupation, schooling, life habits and chronic diseases. Blood pressure (BP) was classifi ed as: 1) BBP: systolic BP (SBP) ≥ 130 mm Hg and < 140 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP (DBP) ≥ 85 mm Hg and < 90 mm Hg; and 2) HT: SBP ≥ 140 mm Hg and/or DBP ≥ 90 mm Hg. A polytomic logistic regression model was used. RESULTS CONCLUSIONS:The prevalence of BBP and HT among young adults of this cohort was higher in males than females. Greater birth length was associated with BBP, but not with HT, whereas birth weight was not associated with either BBP or HT. Adult risk factors explained most of the increase in the levels of BBP and HT. DESCRIPTORS:Borderline blood pressure, hypertension, birth weight, birth length, young adults, cohort studies, obesity, abdominal obesity, high blood glucose. 979Rev Saúde Pública 2012;46(6): Essential hypertension is an important risk factor for morbidity and mortality from coronary heart disease, stroke, and renal disease. 26 Although clinical manifestations of hypertension (HT) do not generally emerge until middle age, the pathophysiologic precursors of adult HT are thought to originate very early in life even during fetal development.Fetal growth disorders are associated with chronic noncommunicable diseases in adulthood, among them HT, according to the fetal origins of adult disease hypothesis. 6 However, it is not clear whether early life factors such as weight and length at birth are also associated with borderline blood pressure (BBP).Prospective studies show that HT is preceded by a prehypertension stage characterized by abnormalities considered as potential metabolic precursors of HT. 14,24The course of concurrent development of adverse blood pressure (BP) levels and other risk factors for the metabolic syndrome during childhood, adolescence, and RESUMO OBJETIVO: Descrever a prevalência de pressão arterial limítrofe (PAL) e hipertensão (HT) entre adultos jovens e avaliar a associação entre tamanho ao nascer e PAL/HT. MÉTODOS:Dados foram coletados do primeiro estudo brasileiro de coorte de nascimentos em Ribeirão Preto (sudeste do Brasil), iniciado em 1978/79. De 6.827 recém-nascidos de parto único hospitalar, 2.060 foram avaliados aos 23/25 anos. Foram realizadas coleta de sangue, avaliação antropométrica e obtidas informações sobre ocupação, escolaridade, hábitos de vida e doenças crônicas. Pressão arterial (PA) foi classifi cada em: 1) PAL: PA sistólica (PAS) ≥ 130 e < 140 mm Hg e/ou PA diastólica (PAD) ≥ 85 e < 90 mmHg; 2) HT: PAS ≥ 140 e/ou...

Revista de Saúde Pública: 50 years disseminating the knowledge in nutrition

“…Moreover, there are articles aiming at the analysis of intrauterine nutrition indicators 63 , while others investigate the effect of birthweight on health in childhood 20 , 59 and adulthood 13 , 62 . Important analyses focused on the evolution of birthweight in the last decades 44 and on those that highlight the paradox of low birthweight.…”

Brazilian cohorts with potential for life-course studies: a scoping review

“…Of the 18 cohorts identified [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31] , 15 started at birth [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][24][25][26][27][28][29] and three, at the prenatal period 23,30,31 . All cohorts were prospective and collected primary data.…”

“…All cohorts were prospective and collected primary data. Ten cohorts 15,18,[20][21][22][24][25][26]29,31 had a representative sample of the baseline reference population, seven cohorts 14,16,17,19,27,28,30 used a convenience sample, and a single cohort was hospital-based 23 . The number of baseline participants ranged from 189 to 7,747 individuals (median of 2,000).…”

“…The cohorts that followed up with the participants at school age collected more frequently morbidity data and less frequently, information on oral health. Five cohorts followed participants in adolescence 21,23,25,26,29 and investigated more frequently morbidity and lifestyle data. Six cohorts followed participants in the early adulthood 17,18,21,22,25,26 , with Percentage of participants who were not followed in the last follow-up in relation to the baseline.…”

“…The information collected less frequently in adulthood was mental health. Of the total cohorts, 14 collected biological material (blood and/or feces) [14][15][16][17][18][20][21][22][24][25][26][27]29,31 at some point in the life cycle (Figure 2). .…”